Kurt Tippett kicked a bag and Sydney won comfortably. For anyone who did not see the game it would have been easy to conclude it was a Sunday stroll in the park. In fact, it was anything but.

It was a case of mission accomplished for the Swans but for half the game this was not the procession many thought it would be.

That was largely due to the ability of St Kilda to harass and close down its opponent, which was the Saints' trademark under Ross Lyon in happier times.

It was also similar to the method that Collingwood had deployed a week earlier when it inflicted a shock loss on the reigning premier.

But there is a reason why the Saints are 16th and in a rebuilding phase and the Swans just a few weeks away from yet another September campaign - the good teams are harder for longer. They can also find a way when things aren't going smoothly.

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Kieren Jack and Dan Hannebery, the Swans' most damaging midfield ball-carriers, are on course for All-Australian honours this season but are starting to be targeted by taggers.

Perhaps instructively, they were down in the first half when the Saints were able to keep pace but lifted in the second when the Swans shook off their less-fancied rival. But Sydney's great strength this year is its depth of quality in the midfield. Josh Kennedy, with 38 possessions, was arguably the best midfielder on the ground, while Luke Parker and Craig Bird also played vital roles.

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The main difference, however, was the firepower both sides had inside their forward 50. The Saints were heavily reliant on Nick Riewoldt, who was beaten by Ted Richards, and there was not much else, though midfield pair Jack Steven and David Armitage clearly have promising futures.

At the other end Tippett showed again why he is shaping as the Swans' most dangerous weapon in September. Tippett bagged five goals and would have finished with more had he not been subbed out just before the final break.

At this point the Swans were well on top, with Tippett clearly getting the better of Jason Blake.

Jesse White profited from Tippett's early finish, kicking two in the last quarter when he was the Swans' main tall target in attack. His finals hopes, however, could hinge on whether he can have a similar impact against teams at the pointy end of the ladder.

The first term was characterised by errors from both sides. The Saints led after booting the first goal, through Tom Lee, and again midway through the term when Steven kicked truly after a midfield turnover by Richards.

By half-time the Swans had more than doubled St Kilda for entries inside 50 but still there was no shaking off the dogged Saints.

It was not until the third quarter that the Swans' dominance around the ground was reflected on the scoreboard.